U P F R O N T

Airlines' 2nd Quarter Financials
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Over the past week, the major U.S. airlines have reported their 2nd quarter (Apr. - Jun.) financial results, and anyone hoping for a return to profitability -- or even a reassuring whiff of a trend in that direction -- will find little cause for optimism. With the exception of perennial profit-generator Southwest, the news is all bad: red ink as far as the eye can see.

                     * millions

The losses -- in the neighborhood of $1.4 billion just for the large U.S. carriers -- would be alarming even if they were 1-time events. But for some airlines, this most recent deficit is just the latest in a string of bad-news financials stretching back 8 consecutive quarters.

O N S I T E

New on the FrequentFlier Forum
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Mizzles is wondering whether 'tis better to charge on the 0% APR Hilton Visa card or earn double miles for charging with Delta's Amex or United's Mileage Plus cards. HF treats us to a cardholder's perspective on the shutdown of the NextCard. Everyone know about earning miles-for-dining, but Timothy in MN is looking for the opposite: opportunities to redeem miles for dining. And more...

Do you have mileage-related questions, answers, anecdotes? Post them (and read others') on the FrequentFlier Forum.

M I L E S & P O I N T S

Double AAdvantage Miles for New Shuttle Flights
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American Eagle, the regional affiliate of American Airlines, has its sights set on the Northeast shuttle routes, currently the sole province of Delta and US Airways (and Amtrak). To promote the new services, AAdvantage members are being offered double miles through Dec. 31, 2002.

American Eagle will launch 10 daily roundtrips between Boston and New York LaGuardia on Sept. 24, and 10 daily roundtrips between LaGuardia and Washington D.C.'s Reagan National on Oct. 1. That amounts to almost hourly service between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., a schedule aimed squarely at the business traveler. And on Aug. 1, American Eagle will expand its existing Boston-Washington National service to 6 daily roundtrips.

The new services were available for sale beginning July 21.

To qualify for this promotion, register before flying by calling 1-800-882-8880, or online at http://www.aa.com/offers, using promotion code BEX2X.

Up to 30,000 US Air Miles for Int'l Flights
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More or less matching a similar offer from Delta (reported in last week's Crier), US Airways is offering Dividend Miles members up to 30,000 bonus miles for flights to/from Europe between Sept. 15 and Dec. 31, 2002.

Bonus applies for US Airways flights between the U.S. and Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Manchester, Munich, Paris or Rome.

Earn 15,000 bonus miles for 1 roundtrip in first or Envoy class (F, J or C fare classes) and 30,000 miles for 2 roundtrips. Or earn 10,000 and 20,000 bonus miles for 1 and 2 roundtrips in coach. Note, though, that only the pricier coach tickets -- Y, B or M fare classes -- are eligible for the bonus.

Register at the below link.

> More...

Midway Will Relaunch as US Airways Express
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On July 17, Midway Airlines summarily suspended all flights and announced plans to return to service in Oct. as a US Airways Express carrier, assuming Midway is able to implement certain cost-cutting measures.

US Airways is in precarious shape itself, so this partnership may strike some as the comatose leading the dying. On the other hand, hitching their wagon to US Airways' may be Midway's last best hope.

The agreement includes a provision for Midway's frequent flyers: their points will be convertible to miles in the US Airways Dividend Miles program. Better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

Further details -- including reaccommodation policies and procedures for those holding Midway tickets -- are available at http://www.midwayair.com or by calling Midway at 1-800-446-4392.

Redeem OnePass Miles for Mostly Mozart
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For 3,500 miles per orchestra seat, Continental OnePass members can obtain tickets to Mostly Mozart performances on Aug. 6, 9 and 21 at Lincoln Center in New York. Limit: 4 tickets per OnePass account.

To redeem miles for tickets, call CenterCharge at 1-212-721-6500 or visit the Avery Fisher Hall Box Office at 65th and Broadway. Tickets-for-miles will be available until 10 days prior to each performance.

Double Miles on New WorldPerks Partner, Malev
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Beginning Aug. 1, 2002, WorldPerks members can earn and redeem miles on all Malev operated flights (except Toronto-Budapest). Previously, only Malev flights between Amsterdam and Budapest were eligible for WorldPerks miles.

To promote the expanded agreement, WorldPerks members will earn double miles on Malev operated flights from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30, 2002.

Asiana Will Leave AAdvantage for Mileage Plus
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Effective Jan. 1, 2003, Asiana Airlines will no longer participate in the AAdvantage program. Until then, members can continue earning and redeeming miles for Asiana flights. All award travel on Asiana must be completed by June 30, 2003.

As previously reported, Asiana will be joining the Star Alliance, including United Mileage Plus and Air Canada Aeroplan, possibly as soon as the end of this year.

The Latest Cybermile Casualty: MilesBar
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The recent demise of MilesBar was just brought to our attention. Here's the e-mail announcement members received in late June:

"We regret to inform you that the MilesBar program and its web site will be closing. Unfortunately, due to the slowdown in the online advertising market in general and the travel industry in particular, we will no longer be able to continue the rewards program. Effective immediately, no miles will be credited for surfing the web via the BannerViewer Bar. Please uninstall the BannerViewer software from your computer. If you need help in uninstallation, please see http://milesbar.com/remove.htm.

"Current members who are eligible for redemption can redeem their miles in accordance with the program rules by July 15, 2002. All requests for redemption must be sent to redemption@milesbar.com by July 15, 2002. Please consult the MilesBar Reward Chart at http://milesbar.com/redeem.htm before requesting mileage redemption.

"Thank you for your participation in the MilesBar program."

Apologies for the after-the-fact announcement... MilesBar just wasn't on our radar screen.

Coming & Going - Program Partner Changes
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> Tie-Ups
American AAdvantage: AT&T Wireless, Europcar, Midland National Life Insurance. Delta SkyMiles: Ameritrade, Jumeirah International Hotels, Signature Nationwide Auto Club, Tokyu Hotels. Northwest WorldPerks: AT&T Worldnet Internet access, Malev Hungarian Airlines*. United Mileage Plus: Asiana (date TBD)*, LOT Polish Air (date TBD), SkyTel wireless, Spanair (date TBD). US Airways Dividend Miles: FTD.com, Nevis Express.

> Break-Ups
American AAdvantage: Asiana (eff. Jan. 1, 2003)*; MGM Grand Las Vegas (eff. July 1). America West FlightFund: Continental (eff. Sept. 24). Continental OnePass: America West, Frontier (eff. Sept. 24). US Airways Dividend Miles: Deutsche BA (eff. Oct. 25).

* More details elsewhere in this issue

S T E A L S & D E A L S

Deal Alert from SmarterLiving.com
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This week's hot deals from SmarterLiving.com...

Fly Between the U.S. and Canada from $90 R/T
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Air Canada has launched a summer sale on flights across the U.S. and Canadian border and within Canada. Fares are valid for travel through Sept. 30. Book tickets online only, at least 7 days before departure, and no later than Tuesday, Aug. 6.

> More...

Domestic and International Savings from United
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United has announced a Web-only sale on domestic flights, featuring its 2 largest hub cities, Chicago (O'Hare) and Denver, as well as savings on international routes across its system. Travel is valid between Aug. 7 and Oct. 8. For most fares, purchase tickets at least 14 days before departure and by Monday, July 29.

> More...

S W E E P S & F R E E B I E S

Share Your Travel Experience, Win a Navigator
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Typically featured in this space are sweepstakes, not to be confused with contests. The difference? In a sweepstakes, winners are chosen at random, while contest winners have in some way outperformed other entrants. The former, in other words, is based on luck, the latter on skill.

This week's offering is a contest: the second annual American Way Road Warrior Search.

To enter, submit your travel story to American Way magazine (American's inflight pub) between Aug. 1 and Oct. 7, 2002. Entry forms can be found in the Aug. issue of American Way, or online at http://www.americanwaymag.com/roadwarrior (although the form was nowhere to be found at press time).

Grand prize is a 2003 Lincoln Navigator, with runner-up prizes of SANYO Fisher electronics or an American Airlines Vacations trip.

According to American, last year's contest generated almost 7,000 entries, so this is no gimme.

[Other travel-related sweepstakes and giveaways are online here.]

Until next week...